How Research Administrators Help Research Scientists Build their Complete Vision
The past three articles have identified the components needed to help build a complete vision for a new research scientist. Today we discuss how the research administrator works with him to accomplish this task. The quick answer is A) by example and B) up close and personal.
By example requires the research administrator to not only have a complete vision for themselves, administrative team, and their entire department, but to also live by it.
If you don’t have one, identifying and developing it is the first place to start. A document by Jim Collins that provides an excellent tool with exercises to follow to help guide you through the process can be found at:
http://www.jimcollins.com/tools/vision-framework.pdf
If you have completed a similar exercise in the past and have defined your vision, then ask yourself the question – how well do I live by it? To answer this question, take a look at the level of passion you and your staff bring to your office everyday. And, quiz your staff. Do they know it?
Up close and personal requires getting into the life of the new scientist. You want to display an authentic life style. This will help build trust which will in turn invite the administrator as part of their team. As an active team member, administrator can take on more management responsibilities, freeing the research scientist to utilize their unique abilities in achieving their BHAG.
Louise Peterson at Columbia University is a good example of a research administrator who has accomplished this feat. She is not just a research administrator, but has become an active member of a research team led by Dr. Martin Chalfie, her department chairman. The team has been incredibly successful. So successful, that Dr. Chalfie was presented with a Nobel Prize for Chemistry last December. While Dr Chalfie received most of the credit, Louise was rewarded for her part on the team with a trip to Stockholm when Dr. Chalfie delivered his Nobel Lecture.
Posted by Jim Wrenn, December 3, 2009, blogger@itworks-inc.com
